Portable, collapsible chair with storage container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible and portable chair includes a storage container provided on the backrest of the chair. Such a storage container can be used to secure and protect items contained therein. The container is formed on the back-side of the chair&#39;s back-rest by a web of fabric sewn to the backrest panel, enclosed on the bottom and both sides, but open on the top edge to provide easy access to the interior of the container. The open top end of the container can be closed using a cinching means, while still providing easy access to the interior of the container either when the chair is in its set-up or collapsed condition. The chair can also include a shade that can be set-up to provide a seated user with shade, or collapsed about the back-side of the chair without interfering with use of the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/765,273, filed Aug. 20, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/802,957, filed Nov. 3, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/417,038, filed Nov. 3, 2016, the disclosures of which are also hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to portable chairs, and more particularly relates to lightweight chairs of portable, collapsible type including one or more storage container thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Folding and collapsible furniture, generally, is well known and has been used a long time. Popularity of the mini van, the sport utility vehicle and the recreational vehicle has resulted in increased demand for improved collapsible furniture and particularly collapsible portable furniture of the outdoor type which may be readily stowed in a vehicle and conveniently manually transported to a picnic area or the site of a spectator event, such as, for example, an outdoor concert, a sporting event, a golf tournament, or an air show, where the general rule is to bring your own seating accommodations. Accordingly, the general intent of folding furniture is ease of storage and portability, i.e., the furniture can be set-up for use and then folded down for transport and/or storage in a space of smaller volume than what the furniture occupies in its set-up condition. It also has been noted that it would be desirable to have the furniture fold down to fit within a space of minimum possible perimeter and/or volume, i.e., for purposes of shipping the furniture at a minimal rate when the shipping rate is based in part on the volume and perimeter of the package to be shipped.

Lightweight, portable seats and chairs of a type with which the present invention is concerned are enjoying increasing popularity for use in viewing sports activities, concerts and a wide variety of other outdoor activities such as camping, boating, hunting, fishing and the like, normally lacking adequate preexisting seating accommodations. As so used, it is desirable to have a container provided as part of the chair: firstly, to provide a means to store extra items—such as, a wallet or purse, a phone or tablet, car keys, extra or excess clothing, snacks, sunscreen or the like; and secondly, as a way to reduce the number of objects the user needs to carry in her hands.

Folding chairs with storage containers are generally known in the art. However, it is desirable to be able to dose the container to secure and protect the items contained therein, thereby providing extra security from theft (e.g., at the beach or a park where the user may occasionally stray away from the chair). Prior art means have used variations of a flap that folds over the open top of the container. Such a flap is traditionally secured to the container using multiple connection spots and means, such as, zippers, hook-and-loop fastening means, buckle and clasp arrangements, buttons, snaps, and the like. However, each of these prior art means has drawbacks, mostly in connection with the ease and speed with which the user can gain access to the interior of the container and then be able to reclose and secure the container.

It is also desirable to have means to easily transport a folded chair, such as by using straps, so that the chair can be carried while keeping the user's hands free for carrying other objects. Preferably, such straps would be backpack straps so that the folded chair can be carried on the user's back, like a backpack, freeing up the user's hands to carry other objects. Optimally, the folded condition of the chair and the location of the straps when the chair is folded, do not interfere with the container. In some prior art designs, the container is not easily usable when the chair is folded. Additionally, such chairs may not have convenient straps for transporting the chair, and as a result, it is easy to lose items from within the container when the chair is folded and/or carried.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a lightweight, portable chair that can be easily collapsed into a small bundle for transport and storage, and as easily set-up for use as a seat. There is also a need for such a chair that include a storage container with means for closing the container to secure items stored therein that is easy to close and access.

Accordingly, it is the general aim of the present invention to provide an improved, lightweight, portable, and collapsible chair that includes a closeable storage container that overcomes the problems and drawbacks associated with prior art folding chair with storage containers, and therefore significantly improves the utility of such chairs in the set-up condition and the folded condition for use and transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a collapsible and portable chair includes a storage container formed in or mounted on the back-side of the backrest of the chair. Such a storage container can be used to secure and protect the items contained therein, thereby providing extra security from theft (e.g., at the beach or a park where the user may occasionally stray away from the chair). The storage container can be used to store a variety of items a user may bring with them, such as, a wallet or purse, a phone or tablet, car keys, extra or excess clothing, snacks, sunscreen or the like.

In a first aspect of the present invention, the container is formed on the back-side of the chair's back-rest by a web of fabric sewn to the backrest panel, enclosed on the bottom and both sides, but open on the top edge to provide easy access to the interior of the container. In an alternate embodiment, the container can be fully formed and thereafter attached to the backrest. In still another embodiment, the fully formed container could be removably attached to the backrest of the chair so that the user may use the container as attached to the chair, or separate from the chair, as desired and convenient.

In embodiments of the present invention, the open top end of the container can be closed using a cinching means. For example, a single rope anchored on each side of the container can be provided and fed through openings or grommets in the container fabric in an alternating threaded fashion, whereby the center of the rope can be pulled in a center portion of the container to tighten and gather the fabric material around the open top end to close the opening. Alternatively, two ropes can be used - more particularly, a left rope and a right rope, each anchored on a respective side of the container and fed through openings or grommets in the container fabric to meet in a middle portion of the container, whereby, again, pulling on the ropes will gather and cinch the opening of the container closed. To open the container, the rope can be relaxed and the fabric along the opening of the container can be pulled open so as to gain access to the interior of the container and objects contained therein.

A sleeve can be provided for essentially locking the container closed. That is, the sleeve is included on the slack of the rope or ropes at the middle of the container. When the rope is pulled to dose the opening, the length of rope in the middle relative to the fabric of the container increases. The sleeve can be slid toward the container fabric and positioned to hold the rope (and the slack thereof) in place relative to the container fabric so that the rope cannot relax and permit the container to open, especially when the are items in the container and/or the folded chair is being carried. To open the container, the sleeve can be pulled away from the fabric so that the fabric can be relaxed relative to the pull rope(s). Accordingly, the present invention provides a container that is easy to close, yet equally easy to gain access to the interior of the container without needing to fidget with tedious fasteners as known in the art and multiple such fasteners.

In another aspect of the present invention, the chair includes straps for easy transport. For example, the straps can be wrapped around the side of the folded chair away from the container and worn over the user's shoulders like a backpack. As so worn, the chair lies on the user's back and the container projects outwardly away from the user, much like standard backpack designs. Embodiments of this type of chair are described and shown in Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/975,339, filed May 9, 2018, and entitled “Collapsible and Portable Chair,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Therefore, a chair and container in accordance with the present invention provides a way to reduce the number of objects the user needs to carry in her hands, or at least free up the user's hands to carry objects other than a chair and a bag. Moreover, when the chair is folded and being worn like a backpack, the container is still functional for storage of items in the container. Such straps also preferably do not interfere with the set-up condition of the chair, or with the collapsing of the chair, or affect use of the chair when so set up.

In another aspect of the present invention, the chair can include a shade that can be secured at side hubs to the chair frame on the back rest or on the rear legs of the chair frame, and generally comprises two arcing members each having at least one hinge to aid in the collapsing of the shade, as shown and described in Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/802,957, incorporated herein by reference. A flexible shade membrane or fabric materials extends between the arcing members. When the shade is in a set-up condition, the membrane is generally taut. The shade can be collapsed, and when so collapsed, the membrane is folded between the arcing members and ultimately folded within or adjacent to the chair frame members as the chair is collapsed. In preferred embodiments, the position of the shade over the head of a seated user sitting in the set-up chair can be adjusted via movement at the side hubs, and still more preferably, locked into certain positions once adjusted, as desired. When the shade is collapsed and folded against the chair back, it can be positioned around the storage container so as not to interfere with use of the container.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the detailed description of embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a rear perspective view of a portable and collapsible chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention shown in a set-up condition.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1 in a folded condition.

FIG. 3 shows a rear planar view of the chair of FIG. 1 in a folded condition being carried by a user, the chair having a storage container in an opened condition.

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1 emphasizing the backrest support.

FIG. 5 shows a front planar view of the backrest support of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a rear planar view of the backrest support of FIG. 4 with a container in an opened condition.

FIG. 7 shows a right-side planar view of the backrest support of FIG. 4 with a container in an opened condition. The left-side view of the backrest support and container is a mirror image.

FIG. 8 shows a bottom planar view of the backrest support of FIG. 4 with a container in an opened condition.

FIG. 9 shows a top planar view of the backrest support of FIG. 4 with a container in an opened condition.

FIG. 10 shows a rear planar view of the backrest support of FIG. 4 with a container in a closed condition.

FIG. 11 shows a right-side planar view of the backrest support of FIG. 4 with a container in a closed condition. The left-side view of the backrest support and container is a mirror image.

FIG. 12 shows a bottom planar view of the backrest support of FIG. 4 with a container in a closed condition.

FIG. 13 shows a top planar view of the backrest support of FIG. 4 with a container in a closed condition.

FIG. 14 shows a right-side planar of a portable and collapsible chair in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention shown in a set-up condition with a storage container and a transverse folding shade in an unfolded condition and open position fixed to the back of the chair.

FIG. 15 shows a rear, right perspective view of the chair of FIG. 14 with the shade in a closed position. The fabric shade material has been removed for illustration purposes.

FIG. 16 shows a right-side planar view of the chair of FIG. 14 with the shade in the closed position. The fabric shade material has been removed for illustration purposes.

FIG. 17 shows a rear planar view of the chair of FIG. 14 with the shade in the closed position. The fabric shade material has been removed for illustration purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a collapsible chair 10 in accordance with the present invention includes left and right pluralities of side frame members that support fabric panels. The side frame members are directly pivotally connected with each other, and also are connected by cross members. The cross members are rigidly and generally orthogonally connected to the side frame members. In intended operation of the chair 10, the side frame members and cross members collectively pivot relative to one another to move the chair between a set-up condition and a collapsed condition.

More particularly, the side frame members are arranged symmetrically in a left plurality 12 and a right plurality 14. Each plurality 12 or 14 of side frame members includes a front leg 16, a rear leg 18, a seat support 20, an armrest 22, and a back support 24. The front legs 16 are cross-connected by a lower leg brace 26 and an upper leg brace 28. The rear legs 18 are cross-connected by a rear brace 30. The back supports 24 are cross-connected by a top brace 32.

Each front leg 16 is pivotally connected to its respective seat support 20 by a front joint 42, and is pivotally connected to its respective rear leg 18 by a wrist joint 44. Each seat support 20 is pivotally connected to its respective back support 24 by a seat joint 46. Each seat joint 46 also connects its respective seat support 20 and back support 24 to a crank 48, which is connected by a crank joint 50 to the respective rear leg 18. Finally, each armrest 22 is pivotally connected to its respective back support 24 by an elbow joint 52, and is adjustably attached to its respective front leg 16 (at or near the wrist joint 44) by a ratchet mechanism 60.

Each member of the chair has a diameter or thickness, and conventionally all members of such chairs have been of a uniform diameter or thickness. Also, conventionally, the members of such chairs have been arranged in a stacked configuration in which they fold down against each other. Thus, for an arrangement of four side frame members, the known chairs when fully folded occupy the thickness of four side frame members.

With reference to the set-up configuration of the chair 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the left and right pluralities 12, 14 of the side frame members are spaced apart by the cross members 26, 28, 30 and 32 to tension a flexible seat panel 62 and a flexible back panel 64 that are attached between the side frame members. A flexible carrying strap 66 may be attached to the chair 10—for example, at the top brace 32 and at one of the rear legs 18 in accordance with Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 10,357,098, incorporated herein by reference.

Referring further to FIG. 2, the chair 10 is shown in a flattened configuration common to collapsible chairs. In the flattened configuration of the chair 10, the side frame members 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 of the left plurality 12 are bundled closely together while the side frame members of the right plurality 14 also are bundled closely together. The side frame members of the seat support and of the back support are nested laterally between the other side frame members (e.g., legs and armrests). In such a substantially coplanar or nested configuration, the folded chair occupies not more than about two side frame members thicknesses due to at least some of the side frame members being laterally nested (not folded against each other). In this regard, the carrying strap 66 can be used with a folding chair that collapses to this flattened configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 shows a flattened folding chair 10 being carried over a carrier's shoulder. This is a shoulder bag mode of carrying the chair 10, with the carrying strap 66 going over and under the same shoulder. The carrying strap 66, by its attachment to the top brace 32 and to the rear leg 18 across the chair 10, helps to maintain the chair in its flattened configuration. The carrying strap 66 extends across the chair 10 at an offset from the chair's center of gravity, such that when the chair is carried over the carrier's shoulder the weight of the chair exerts a swinging force on the carrying strap 66. By “swinging force” is meant a force that tends to displace the chair 10 sideways from the center of the carrier's back so as to bring the center of gravity in line under the carrier's shoulder. Accordingly, the upper end of the carrying strap 66 is made sufficiently broad to resist the swinging force, i.e. to keep the chair 10 in its place across the carrier's back. For example, the upper end may be made about four to six inches broad so as to distribute the swinging force across the carrier's shoulder.

Moreover, the carrying strap 66 may be duplicated with the duplicate strap being attached at the side of the top brace and at the other rear leg 18. Accordingly, when the chair 10 is in its flattened condition, both of the duplicate carrying straps may be used to carry the chair over both shoulders like a backpack.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, the chair 10 includes a storage container 80 on the backside of the back rest panel 64, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-13. The container 80 can be formed in or mounted on the back rest panel 64, and projects out from the back of the chair 10 for use when the chair 10 is in a set-up condition, as generally shown in FIG. 1, or in a collapsed condition and being carried by a user like a backpack, as generally illustrated in FIG. 3.

In a preferred embodiment, the container 80 is a cinch-style container that can be easily dosed to secure and protect the items contained therein, thereby providing extra security from theft (e.g., at the beach or a park where the user may occasionally stray away from the chair 10). The storage container 80 can be used to hold and store a variety of items, such as, a wallet or purse, a phone or tablet, car keys, extra clothing, snacks, sunscreen, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, the container 80 is preferably formed on the backside of the chair's back rest by a web of fabric sewn to the backrest panel 64. The container 80 is enclosed on the bottom and both sides, but open on the top edge 82 to provide easy access to the interior of the container 80. In an alternate embodiment, the container 80 can be fully formed and thereafter attached to the backrest panel 64. In still another embodiment, the fully formed container 80 could be removably attached to the backrest of the chair 10 so that the user may use the container 80 as attached to the chair 10, or separate from the chair 10, as desired and convenient.

In embodiments of the present invention, the open top end 82 of the container 80 can be closed using a cinching means, generally designated as reference numeral 84. For example, a single rope 86 anchored on each side of the container 80 can be provided and fed through openings or grommets 88 in the container fabric in an alternating threaded fashion, whereby the center of the rope 86 can be pulled in a center portion of the container 80 to tighten and gather the fabric material around the open top end 82 to close the opening. Alternatively, two ropes can be used—more particularly, a left rope and a right rope, each anchored on a respective side of the container 80 and fed through openings or grommets 88 in the container fabric to meet in a middle portion of the container 80, whereby, again, pulling on the ropes will gather and cinch the opening of the container 80 closed. To open the container 80, the rope 86 can be relaxed and the fabric along the opening of the container 80 can be pulled open so as to gain access to the interior of the container 80 and objects contained therein.

A sleeve can be provided for essentially locking the container 80 closed. That is, the sleeve is included on the slack of the rope or ropes 86 at the middle of the container 80. When the rope 86 is pulled to close the opening, the length of rope in the middle relative to the fabric of the container 80 increases. The sleeve can be slid toward the container fabric, as illustrated in FIG. 10, and positioned to hold the rope 86 (and the slack thereof) in place relative to the container fabric so that the rope 86 cannot relax and permit the container 80 to open, especially when the are items in the container 80 and/or the folded chair 10 is being carried. To open the container 80, the sleeve can be pulled away from the fabric so that the fabric can be relaxed relative to the pull rope(s), providing easier access to the interior of the container 80, as generally illustrated in FIG. 6. Accordingly, the present invention provides a container 80 that is easy to close, yet equally easy to gain access to the interior of the container 80 without needing to fidget with tedious fasteners as known in the art and multiple such fasteners.

The container 80 in accordance with the present invention may also be used on a chair style 300 having a folding shade 200 attached to the back rest of the chair frame, such as described and shown in Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/802,957, filed Nov. 3, 2017, and entitled “Transverse Folding Shade,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Referring to FIGS. 14-17, embodiments of the present disclosure may include an embodiment of a folding shade 200 in accordance with the present invention having a frame 100 comprising arced rib members that support a flexible shade fabric 202. The ends of the rib members can be connected to the chair frame by hubs 102, and moreover, pivoted about said hubs 102 to a desired set-up position, as illustrated in FIG. 14. In this chair configuration, the shade 200 may also be collapsed by rotation at the hubs 102, such that the shade 200 is “backpacked” and the shape of the collapsed folding frame 100 in a “rest” position on the back side of the back support of the chair 300 where the folding frame 100 goes around the backpack container 80 without interfering with use of such container 80, as shown in FIGS. 15-17, such as when the chair is carried like a backpack. In FIGS. 15-17, the shade fabric 202 has been removed for illustration purposes. However, in use, the shade fabric 202 is flexible and may be sewn to provide the necessary elasticity to allow for this type of collapsible configuration. Accordingly, when the transverse folding shade 200 is in such a collapsed condition, i.e. “backpacked,” and the chair 300 that the transverse folding shade 200 is mounted to is in a collapsed condition, the chair 300 and transverse folding shade 200 may be worn by a user in a backpack fashion. This may be advantageous for transporting the chair 300 and transverse folding shade 200, and the position of the collapsed shade 200 does not interfere with use of the container 80.

The present invention permits use of a folding shade 200 that may close and/or fold without being removed from the folding furniture that it is permanently or removably attached to. This feature advantageously allows the folding shade to travel and/or be stored with folding furniture when the folding furniture is also closed and/or folded instead of being required to be separately removed for such travel or storage applications. Further, the since the folding shade is configured to close and/or fold while attached to folding furniture, the folding shade may not add any extra width to the folding furniture footprint when in the folded the position.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. The embodiments described were chosen to best illustrate the principles of the invention and practical applications thereof to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible and portable chair comprising: a chair frame comprising a plurality of interconnected longitudinal frame members pivotally movable with respect to one another between a set-up condition and a collapsed condition; a seat panel and a back rest panel connected between frame members of the chair frame for respectively defining a seat support and a back support when the chair frame is in the set-up condition; and a container mounted on a backside of the back rest panel, said container having an open top end and a cinching means for dosing and opening the open top end.
 2. The collapsible and portable chair according to claim 1, wherein the cinching means comprises a rope fed through two or more openings in the top end of the container, whereby manipulation of the rope can cause the open top end of the container to open or close.
 3. The collapsible and portable chair according to claim 1, further comprising at least one strap for carrying the chair in its collapsed condition.
 4. The collapsible and portable chair according to claim 3, wherein the at least one strap comprises two straps.
 5. The collapsible and portable chair according to claim 1, further comprising a collapsible sun shade mounted on the back support of the chair, said sun shade having an opened and closed condition and further being pivotable between a set-up and collapsed position, wherein, when the sun shade is in its collapsed position, it does not interfere with access to and use of the container. 